Dog lived alone in a Norfolk cemetery for months. One man's food-and-water visits helped bring him to safety
While Lucky's physical health was stable, thanks to Reitz's efforts, months of isolation had clearly taken an emotional toll.
When David Reitz joined a guided walking tour through Norfolk's historic Cedar Grove Cemetery, he expected to see local history. But he was surprised to see a pair of watchful, frightened eyes peering back from between the headstones. That brief glimpse turned into a months-long quiet vigil. Reitz left bowls of fresh water and scattered food, slowly winning over the reclusive three-year-old stray named Lucky, who had made the graveyard his solitary refuge. After this, he was brought in safely by the Norfolk Animal Care Center (NACC) with the help of dedicated neighbors, as reported by 10 WAVY.com on October 12, 2026, in a heartwarming report.
A chance discovery
Reitz first caught sight of Lucky while taking an afternoon walking tour through Cedar Grove Cemetery. The dog was elusive and visibly uneasy, but Reitz could not shake the encounter. After asking around, he discovered that the animal had quietly haunted the grounds for months, if not longer. Concerned about his well-being and determined to keep him alive, Reitz returned to the graveyard with some water and a meal. Soon, this turned into a daily stop for him as he set out bowls of food every day for Lucky.
Earning Lucky's trust
Neighbors gradually joined Reitz's mission, pooling resources and keeping a watch until they could safely contain him. "It’s a story about compassion, animal welfare, and a community coming together to give a vulnerable dog a second chance at life," Reitz told WAVY. With help from neighbors, Reitz continued feeding and monitoring Lucky until they were eventually able to safely trap him and get him help. After this, on September 26, they reached out to Norfolk's Animal Protection Unit, which stepped in to transport the newly named Lucky to the Norfolk Animal Care Center (NACC).
Arriving at the shelter and overcoming fears
The veterinary staff examined the newcomer, administered his routine shots, and calculated his age at roughly three years old. While Lucky's physical health was stable, thanks to Reitz's efforts, months of isolation had clearly taken an emotional toll. Inside the kennel, Lucky proved deeply skittish and wary of human touch, making behavioural evaluations slow and delicate work for the facility's teams. Still, handlers emphasized that his fear never boiled over into hostility. "Lucky has shown no signs of aggression," a shelter representative affirmed.
Finding a patient foster
Caregivers now stress that a noisy kennel environment will only stall Lucky's recovery, making a quiet home setting crucial for his development. They are searching for a household willing to grant him endless patience and room to decompress without pressure. Anyone able to offer that sanctuary can coordinate with the shelter's foster team directly. Lucky’s story comes as shelters continue to deal with large numbers of stray animals. According to Shelter Animals Count’s 2026 mid-year report, stray dog intakes were down about 5% — or roughly 45,000 dogs — compared with the same period in 2025. The report also noted that stray dogs are the intake group most likely to be euthanized.
He must have cool stories
As for the people, they are hopeful that Lucky will soon have a second shot at a great life, according to the comments on a post by @wavynews10. @zarateparker commented, "During the flood, I was caught in the cemetery a little while ago and met him and hung out with him." Meanwhile, @angelflipsva pointed out, "That dog got all the ghost stories now lol."
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